Hi everyone! My name is Azat, I am 26 y.o. and this is my first time I am going to Whitney June 27-28th on overnight trail. First, I am looking for anyone who wants to join me (I am alone for now). Second, I want to share with experienced hikers my plan, so I am looking for any corrections and mistakes I may have.
In January I fell in love with Denali and I decided that I will go there next year. And to prepare to this summit I am going 2 times to the Whitney this year. I started actively planning hike to Whitney couple months ago. I go to hikes every week (with weights). Last weekend I did 8 miles, 1700 feet gain elevation with 30 pounds. Also I am training in the gym, doing a lot of cardio (stairs and running machine with highest incline).
There are some of my concerns/questions:
1. First night. I am traveling from Venice Beach, so it’s 0 feet elevation and I wanted to get sleep somewhere at high altitude. The question is where to stay?
- Is is allowed to park in Whitney Portal and sleep in the car?
- Is it allowed to camp near the car? Whitney Portal is about 8k feet and I definitely wanted to get acclimate there before my first day hike.
- Or should I go to 4k feet and sleep at hotel in Lon Pine? For example Whitney portal hostel? 4k feet - will it be enough to acclimate first day? I am planning to hike up to 12k feet and camp there.
2. Should I really consider crampons and ice axe? I have waterproof Vasquez breeze III GTX
http://www.vasque.com/USD/product/mens-footwear/breeze-iii-gtx-brn-oliv-bunge-071903. Is it better to take all my water for 2 days or is it better to buy filters and purify water from the rivers?
4. Should I take warm clothes such as gloves/warm hat/warm jacket? This will definitely add a lot of weight. So I want to bring as less weight as possible.
5. I read that a lot of people doing glissade of the chute. If I will do it too, will it lead to my trail back? I don’t want to be lost.
6. When people camp at whitney trail camp, do they leave their camping gear there before summit and then take it on the way back or they take it with them to the summit?
7. Getting permit. Is there a way to get permit a day or two before my hike? I checked that office which gives a permits works from 9am to 5pm. 9am is very late for me. If I will get permit at 9am on my first day hike, I will start my hike very late.
And also if I will stay at Whitney portal to acclimate, that means that I will need to go back to 4k feet to get permit, so it's wasting of time.